Paula Radcliffe's UK Athletics funding at risk

Paula Radcliffe is likely to be among the British athletes who miss out on
Lottery funding for next season when UK Athletics announces a reduced list
of competitors on Monday.

Missing the cut: Paula Radcliffe has failed to achieve the targets set out for her this seasonPhoto: GETTY IMAGES

By Guy Aspin

8:18PM BST 14 Oct 2012

The governing body has narrowed the focus for a place on their World Class Performance Programme from athletes with top-eight potential to those who are top-three contenders.

That will mean fewer podium-level funded athletes, the highest level of Lottery support, which runs from around £13,000 to £26,000 and is in addition to non-financial help like access to coaches, facilities, medical staff and training camps.

Athletes who failed to achieve the targets set out for them at either the 2011 World Championships or this summer's Olympics or those not considered medal contenders at the Rio Games in 2016 may be cut.

Radcliffe, 39, missed the London Games through injury and did not compete either at the World Championships in Daegu in 2011.

The former world 800 metres bronze medallist Jenny Meadows may also miss out. She was not selected for the Olympics and missed the entire 2012 season due to injury.